Dental separator.



No. 777,821. PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904.

/ R. WALKER.

DENTAL SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, 1904 N0 MODEL.

Patented December 20, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT WALKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DENTAL SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,821, dated December20, 1904.

Application filed July 20, 1904:. Serial No. 217,321.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT WALKER, a British subject, residing in theborough of Manhattan, city of New York, in the State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Separators, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to devices which are employed in dental Work forthe purpose of separating adjacent teeth; and it has for its object toproduce a device of this class which shall be compact, having no partswhich stand in the way of the operator, shall be held securely in anydesired position, shall not be liable to slip down upon the gum of thepatient, and shall be free from any undesirable relative movement of theworking parts.

The invention will be more fully explained hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which it is illustrated, and in whichFigure 1 is a plan view of the improved dental separator, the jawsthereof being in their closed positions. Fig. 2 is a similar view, butwith the jaws in their opened positions. Fig. 3 is an edge view. Fig. 4is a detail view in section on the line 4 4 of Fig.

1 on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a detail view in section on the line 55 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail edge viewsfrom different points of the ring or head, to be referred tohereinafter.

The improved separator comprises two jaws a and 6, which are suitablyshaped for the intended purpose, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, so thatthe field of work of the operator shall not be obstructed. The two jawsare pivoted together at one end, as by a pivotstud 0, and the joint maybe set up closely, so as to prevent any loose movement upon the pivotand to insure the retention of the operating ends of the jaws in thesame plane. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the two jaws are of unequallength, so that the operating parts (Z 4 and 0 thereof shall overlap inthe plane of the jaws secures a more powerful action of the wedges withless relative movement of the jaws, since the two wedges act upon eachother, and the application of the wedges to the adjacent teeth in thesame plane is more desirable than the application of the wedges indifferent planes. As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4:, the adjacentsurfaces of the two wedges (Z and a slide in contact with each other,the plane of contact being substantially parallel with the pivotal axisof the jaws, and the outer sides of jaws, as also clearly shown at e andcl in Fig. 4:, are slightly beveled to conform to the normal bevel ofthe teeth, so that there shall be a broader surface of contact betweenthe wedges and the teeth, with less liability of cracking the enamel andless liability of slipping down accidentally on the gum, to the greatdiscomfort of the patient.

For the operation of the jaws there is provided between the two jaws anindependent head or ring f, which is engaged by screws g and it, whichare threaded, respectively, inthe jaws a and b. Each screw is headedwithin the ring f, as at g and it, so that the screws may act astension-screws to draw the jaws together, and they are also shouldered,as at g if, to act against the head or ring f as an abutment for thepurpose of separating the jaws. They are also squared 01' otherwiseformed, as at g and its, for engagement by a suitable key or wrench, bywhich the screws may be operated to move the jaws. As clearly shown inFigs. 6 and 7, the head or ring f is slotted, as at f, for engagementwith the headed ends of the screws g and it and to permit the necessaryswinging movement of one or both of the screws with respect to the heador ring as one or both of the jaws are moved.

In the use of the improved separator the jaws are at first openedsulficiently to permit the points of the wedges to clear the teeth, andthe separator is then applied to the teeth, and one or both of thescrews 9 it are rotated to draw the points of the wedges togetherbemovement of the jaws is always positive, so that there can be noaccidental slipping, and

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the release of the jaws is also positive. There are no projecting partsto stand in the way of the operator or to seriously inconvenience thepatient. There is no possibility of any loose movement between the twowedges in any direction, and there is no possibility of any slipping ofthe devices in the mouth of the patient.

I claim as my invention 1. In a dental separator, pivoted jaws havingoverlapping wedges at their free ends, a central head or ring, andscrews threaded in the jaws respectively and engaging said head or ring,substantially as described.

2. In a dental separator, pivoted jaws having overlapping wedges, acentral head or ring, and screws engaging said central head or ring andthreaded in the jaws respectively, said head or ring being slotted toengage the headed ends of the screws, substantially as described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 19th day of July, A. 1).1904.

ROBERT WALKER.

1n presence of W. B. GREELEY, A. N. JESBERA.

